Acroama

In the culmination of the days of Men within the realms of Middle-earth, the lineage of Tuor and Idril, begetters of Eärendil, unfurls its tale.      In the interwoven annals of fate’s tapestry, Tuor was bestowed with Ulmo's favor, for the lamentable fall of Gondolin moved even the depths of the Lord of Waters to compassion. Yet, despite Ulmo's entreaties, the heart of Manwë, the High King, remained unmoved. It was believed that a solitary advocate, a voice for both Elves and Men, might rouse his heart and unravel the curse that bound the Firstborn.     A malediction of banishment and unending existence afflicts the Elves, rendering life devoid of purpose. Conversely, a gift of brevity clouds the lives of Men, shrouding their eternal destiny in uncertainty. Their boon lies in faith, thus imbuing their mortal journey with meaning profound. Yet, the final strains of Eru Illuvitar’s grand symphony, reserved for Men alone, dwell shrouded in enigma, veiled even from ...

Like Shakespeare suggested, masterful art is revealing, with the best theater acting as a “mirror” to humanity.  This certainly is the case with the new hit movie Barbie.  Barbie, whether consciously or not, aligns harmoniously with feminine archetypes and journey’s defined in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. These theories were laid out by female psychoanalysts and mythologists in response to the prominent Hero’s Journey. These “journey” or archetype theories rely on psychoanalytical foundations laid by Jungian and Freudian psychology.  Jung and Freud proposed that humans share universal symbols and narratives that combine into stories that then manifest in dreams and art. These manifestations seem to serve a deeply subconscious therapeutic purpose in understanding the world and how to most meaningfully interact with it.  Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s willingness to portray so many different perspectives on womanhood, has turned this story into a kind of parable ...

I was standing on the set of The Chosen as an extra after almost passing out from the COVID finger prick (I don’t do well with needles). It was kind of unbelievable that I was there in a middle eastern looking city, dressed in robes, surrounded by cameras, laughter, incense, and the people playing the part of Jesus and His disciples. Being on set was so much quieter than I thought it would be, yet everything still teemed with excitement. I was busy pretending it was completely normal for me to belong there when somehow, I ended up standing next to Dallas Jenkins (creator of The Chosen). This was a rare opportunity to get to know him a little better. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was curious to understand how Dallas and his show ended up being in Utah—on a set owned by our faith. Many of you have heard the story. Dallas obliged my questioning and told me about getting the suggestion from Angel Studios, expressing interest before season one, and the...